Why not now??

06 Mar 2018#Sex Education

There has been an unusual amount of controversy on the topic of Sex Education. We know it's tough but it has to be addressed. It's like now or never. While almost everyone seems to agree that sex education of children is necessary, there is much disagreement about: What should be taught, where it should be taught and who should do the teaching? Parents think that it is taught in the schools and in schools it is ignored or is omitted from the syllabus. Sex education does not teach children how to have sex at an early age.
Sex education is instruction on issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth control and sexual abstinence. Sex education that covers all of these aspects is known as comprehensive sex education. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, formal school programs, and public health campaigns. (Wikipedia)
Children of all age groups are curious to know about sex, periods and condoms. The advertisements and the physiological changes that happen in their bodies probe them to know more about it. It’s quite obvious of kids to ask questions after seeing a pregnant woman or a newborn. If parents refuse to talk about this or share half-baked stories with them, it will only misguide the child.
Only a few parents provide meaningful information about sex education to their children. Teenagers learn most of what they know about sex from their friends rather than parents. Sex education in school curriculum is still not offered. Children are exposed to a great deal of information about sex at an early age through television, movies, books, internet and lots of other sources. It leads to the risk of interpreting what they see as accurate depictions of what sex is all about, which may have unfortunate consequences this, is education by default…
Parents don’t really have a choice about whether their children get sex information – they can only choose whether or not to participate in the sex education at home. Fact is that teaching children about sex need not be different from teaching them about lots of other things
Keep it casual: Don’t be formal to kids while discussing sex. It should be as friendly as any other discussion you would have with them. As while doing household chores cooking, washing the vehicle, as parents and children find it easier to discuss sex if they are preoccupied with another task.
Keep it from time to time: Sex education is an ongoing process. Short and frequent conversations are better than big talk. These conversations will help to strengthen your relationship with your kids. These conversations will help avoid some uncomfortable talks when they reach adolescence.
Maintain eye contact: Please don’t’ be ashamed of telling your kids about sex. It’s a natural process and should be taught without hesitation. Avoiding eye contact can suggest embarrassment or discomfort, child will feel talking sexual things is taboo
Use your own experience: Explain your values, beliefs but don’t demand that your child should share your beliefs and values. For example, if you come from a family that believes intercourse should be saved up until marriage, you can openly share your views during this conversation. Try to talk about puberty, menstruation, masturbation, reproduction, contraception, unplanned pregnancy, premarital sex, homosexuality, sexually transmitted diseases. Try to answer simple questions in the beginning like how babies are born, why female get periods etc.If you don’t know the answers to something say so and try to find other ways to get information like books, articles, and when in doubt contact doctors.
Dr. Jyoti Jagtap ( The Psychiatrist )
Doctor by occupation…no not a fake one like Ross..a real doctor!! A Photographer whenever she gets a chance to click. An actor..on and off the stage.. And a writer in making…